Robert hartmann



(l0 lndal.)

1 Patented MaHy I4, |90I. R. HARTMANN.

EASEL SUPPURT.

(Application ma .my 1s, 1900 Mult mb'mwww Httormg Tn: humus uns co.. mm-urna., wwunomw, n4 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT HARTMANN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EASEL-SUPPORT.

.SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 673,904, dated May 14, 1901.

'pplication filed July 13, 1900 Serial No. 23,433 (N0 mdel-l pctu re-frames or similar devices that are to be sustained in au upright position upon-a table or shelf.

The object of the invention is to construct a support for this purpose in the most economical manner and in a manner such that sents in perspective a form of easel provided with one of the improved supports. Fig. 2 represents the blank from which the support is made, the formation of the dierent features being indicated thereon. Fig. 2a illus- Y trates some modification in the features of said blank. Fig. 3 represents in verticalsection the improved support in substantially the position shown in Fig. l. Fig. 4 illustrates said support in its collapsed condition. Fig. 5 represents a modification in the construction of the support. Figs. `5 and 5b represent dierent positions of parts of the modified device.

The support may be made from any suitable flexible material-' sucb, for instance, as sheet metal, celluloid, or cardboard, the latter being preferred when intended for use on small articles. The support is preferably made from a single strip of one of these materials by striking up from one portion thereof a stay, asindicated at 6, preferably provided at its free end with one or more limiting-shoulders,forming, in effect, a head, asindicated at 7, and by striking up from the other portion thereof, as

from the portion which forms the prop oi" shore, a tongue 8, which shall serve as a stop to automatically limit the separation of one portion of the support from the other in determining the angle at which the easel or frame shall be sustained. When these parts have been struck up from the blank, as just described, which may be done at the same 6o time and by the same die with which the blank is cut from the sheet, the portions of the support are folded upon one another substantially at the middle of the blank, and the stay 6 is inserted through the aperture formed by 65 the striking up of the stop 8. The parts then may take either of the positions indicated in Figs. 3 or 4. The latter isthat which the support will take when packed away or during shipment.

The tongue 8, as seen in Fig. 3, stands at such a small vangle with respect to the stay that it resists the tendency of the prop to move away from the main portion of the su p- Ori. Enhanced by roughening the under side of the stay; but when the support is made from cardboard such roughening is unnecessary. Obviously that portion of the support which is This tendency may be more greatly shown in Fig. l as attached to the easel or 8o frame maybe omitted, with the exception of a short portion by which to secure the prop to the frame, the stay being secured to the frame by recurviug a portion of its end or in any other suitable way. The action of the stay in the prop and the cooperation therewith of the stop S will beNidentically the same as in the structure shown in Fig. l. In this form, however, the support consists of two parts, and its perfect operation would depend 9o somewhat upon the accuracy with which these parts were connected tothe easel or frame and would increase the cost'of manufacture.

By making the tongue as seen at 8/, Figs.

2, 5, 5, and 5b, the parts are more easily as-k 95 sembled and the support held morerigidly in its extreme position. The aperture formed by striking` up tongue or stop 8 in wedge form is wide enough at its base to admit the free passage of the head 7 on the end of stay roo 6, and the upper end of the aperture is enough narrower than the stay 6 so that the walls thereof will enter the notches 9 in the sides of the stay at the head 7. While in that postruction of the support aside from those above mentioned may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my inventionl. In an easel the combination with the frame or main portion thereof, of a prop hinged to said frame and provided with an aperture, an automatic stop in said aperture, and a stay flexibly connected to said frame and projecting through said aperture, said stop serving to limit the position of the stay in said aperture thereby enabling the prop to be fixed at various angles with respect to the frame.

2. An easel-su pport consisting of a strip of material adapted to be folded upon itself and havingr a ,stay struck up from one portion thereof with shoulders at its free end, and a stop struck up from the other portion of the support and adapted to grip the stay and limit the spreading of one portion of the support away from the other.

3. In an easel-support, Aa prop having a Wedge-shaped tongue or stop struck up therefrom, in combination with a stay having lateral notches to receive the Walls of the aperture formed by striking up said tongue,ras and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an easel-support, a prop having a wedge-sha ped tongue or stop struck up therefrom,ir`1 combination with a stay having shoulders at its free end and lateral notches next to said shoulders to receive the Walls of the aperture formed by striking up said tongue, said tongue being adapted to be pressed tightly under the stay and to hold its notches in engagement with said Walls, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county'ol" New York and State of New York, this 11th day of July, A. D. 1900.

ROBERT HARTMANN.

Witnesses:

DELBERT H. DECKER, ETHEL L. LAWLER. 

